When we received an urgent plea to help a needy emaciated Georgia peach in late term pregnancy, we couldn’t truly understand the extent of hardships and suffering she had gone through, nor the misery she would yet have to deal with. She was at an animal control facility where euthanasia was imminent. Thankfully, a bully breed rescue interceded and took pity on her.

Popcorn Park opened its doors to the pit bull who must have had a rough life and clearly, had had numerous litters. A transport was coming from Georgia to the Northeast to deliver many animals and they could include Dixie.

Dixie made the trip without delivering her pups, but within two days of her arrival, she gave birth to 14 pups. She was emaciated, ribs and hip bones protruded. Dixie was so physically depleted that her 15th pup never made it out of the birth canal. Three of her pups died within the first day. She was loaded with life-threatening hookworms and other intestinal parasites; she was coughing and had nasal discharge. To add to her misery, she was found to be heavily infested with heartworm.

Because Dixie had to be on a number of medications to insure her own survival, we had to remove her surviving pups. Our staff started to nurse them. It saddened us to separate her from her pups, but because of the lack of care and nourishment given to Dixie and her physical ailments, many of her pups have fading puppy syndrome. We are giving them the best chance possible to survive as well.

Dixie is still extremely weak but her appetite is good. Her capacity for strong emotional ties is strong and she looks to bond with those around her. Whatever she had in the way of southern hospitality cannot be compared to the efforts we are now putting in to Dixie to insure she receives the best care possible and to make a real difference in her life.

Our rescue of Dixie has been one of disappointment, distress and heartache for a dog who deserved so much more than she was given in her life prior to her coming to us. Dixie’s story has stirred our deep-seated love and brought many tears, but it renews the reason we do shelter work. It has inspired and motivated us to work harder for those that will need us in the future.

Your donations continue to help in the intensive care being given to Dixie and her pups. Our Res-Q Fund resources are for them and those animals that will come after Dixie and her pups have gone. Please help us care for Dixie and her pupsand for the many, many “Dixies’ we are committed to helping in the future. Your kindness IS their future.

For more information on Dixie and her pups, call the Society at 973-824-7080 and refer to File 114280